It was announced today that Western Australian Planning Minister John Dayhas approved the City of Fremantle Planning Scheme Amendment 49. This is a black day for Fremantle which will see highrise in the inner city around historic Kings Square.

It comes as no surprise that the Minister approved PSA 49. When one combines a development mad state government with a panic stricken local one, one is always going to get bad outcomes.

Fremantle council approved PSA 49 against the will of the majority of people who expressed in a City survey they did not want buildings higher than eight storyes. The majority of submissions sent to the City were also against PSA 49.

Council claims retail in the city suffered but that is not unique to Freo. The global financial crisis sees retailers closing down all over Australia and the world. Even King Street in highly developed Perth…